4 key points of the first presidential debate

by Chicago Tribune - Sept. 26, 2008 10:10 PM

Stamping the passport

1. McCain made it abundantly clear that he has a suitcase and will travel. "I've been to Waziristan," he said. "I can see how tough that terrain is. It's ruled by a handful of tribes." Obama couldn't match that itinerary but noted that there was more to foreign policy than conducting a travelogue; it was important for America to restore its standing in the world after eight years of the current Republican administration's policies.

The Kissinger off

2. McCain attacked Obama for saying he would meet with leaders of rogue nations such as Iran without precondition. But Obama noted that former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, one of McCain's advisers, had recently backed high-level direct talks with Iran - without precondition - over its nuclear plans and other issues. McCain said Obama was misrepresenting Kissinger's comments. But this month, Kissinger met with other former secretaries of state and said the U.S. should negotiate with Iran "without conditions."

The prevent defense

3. The first third of the debate was consumed by the economic crisis, but little new ground was broken as both candidates repeated well-practiced sound bites. Obama struggled to detail any programs he would jettison to pay for the Wall Street bailout, except saying some parts of his alternative energy strategy would have to be delayed. McCain proposed a spending freeze on everything but defense, veterans affairs and entitlements, prompting Obama to respond that such an approach was "using a hatchet where you need a scalpel."

Parting shots

4. McCain didn't appear slowed by his age and Obama appeared equally poised. There was nothing close to a sharp attack until the end of the debate. "There are some advantages to experience and knowledge and judgment," McCain said. "I don't think I need any on-the-job training." But Obama sought to tie McCain to unpopular President Bush and pledged to "send a message to the world. ... We are going to invest in issues that relate to how ordinary people are able to live out their dreams."

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, right, reaches to shake hands with Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, after their first presidential debate at the University of Mississippi in Oxford, Miss., on Sept. 26.